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Millions paid to cops in latest Bell scandal
From right to left, former Bell City Administrator Robert Rizzo, former Assistant City Administrator Angela Spaccia, former council member Luis Artiga and then-Bell Mayor Oscar Hernandez appear during a preliminary hearing at Los Angeles Superior Court Feb. 22, 2011, in Los Angeles. (Getty Images)
BELL, Calif. - The California city of Bell says three former police chiefs and other employees received disability pensions worth millions of dollars that they didn't earn.
The Los Angeles Times reports an investigation has concluded that more than half of the disability retirements awarded to police officers under former city administrator Robert Rizzo shouldn't have been granted. It also concluded that workers' compensation awards for 13 officers were "exceedingly large."
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The disability pensions carry big tax benefits and the workers compensation settlements are tax-free.
The California Public Employees Retirement System will now investigate.
City officials have said Rizzo used the police retirement scheme to reward allies and persuade officers he wanted off the force to leave.
Rizzo and seven other officials of the Los Angeles suburb have been charged with corruption.
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